Chris Fowler Signs Extension with ESPN Through 2023

Versatile Commentator to Call Saturday Night Football & New College Football Playoff Games; Continues on GameDay & Marquee Tennis Events

Multisport commentator Chris Fowler – widely regarded as one of the most versatile and talented announcers in television – will remain with ESPN as a lead voice on many of the network’s marquee events, primarily college football and tennis Majors, through 2023.

Fowler, who called ESPN’s Thursday night college football series from 2006 to 2009, will return to the college football booth as part of the nine-year extension, working play-by-play on the weekly Saturday Night Football series on ABC with analyst Kirk Herbstreit and sideline reporter Heather Cox. He and Herbstreit, who have worked together on ESPN’s College GameDay Built by The Home Depot since 1996, will also usher in the new era in college football, teaming up to work a College Football Playoff Semifinal game and the College Football National Championship. He will continue to host College GameDay, a position he has held since 1990.

He will also remain an integral part of ESPN’s tennis coverage, highlighted by the four Majors — Wimbledon, US Open, French Open and Australian Open — where he hosts and calls matches. These include championships from Australia, Wimbledon and, beginning with ESPN’s exclusive coverage in 2015, the US Open.

“Chris Fowler is a one-of-a-kind talent who brings an amazing work ethic to every project he works on,” said John Wildhack, ESPN Executive Vice President, Programming and Production. “His ability to skillfully document some of the world’s most popular sporting events continues to impress sports fans year after year and his love for college football is on full display every week on GameDay. Chris will bring the same great qualities to the Saturday Night Football stage and new College Football Playoff, joining his long-time colleague Kirk Herbstreit and respected reporter Heather Cox.”

Fowler joined ESPN in July 1986 as the first host/reporter of Scholastic Sports America for two years. Over the years, he has also hosted the network’s coverage of the FIFA World Cup soccer, SportsCenter, SportsCentury, horse racing’s Triple Crown races, men’s college basketball including on-site Final Four coverage and the first few editions of the X Games and Winter X Games.

“I am very excited about hosting GameDay for a 25th year and extending my work with Kirk Herbstreit for a 19th season and beyond,” said Fowler. “There is a strong legacy of top college football voices on ABC, from Chris Schenkel to Keith Jackson to Brent Musburger. I’m looking forward to returning to the booth and being a part of that incredible tradition. As for tennis, I can’t wait to continue and expand my role in ESPN’s industry-leading coverage.”

In addition to College GameDay, a three-time Emmy-winning Saturday morning college football preview show that originates from one of the day’s major games, Fowler has hosted ESPN’s Heisman Trophy Presentation since 1994 and ESPN’s The Home Depot College Football Awards show since its inception in 1993. He was the play-by-play voice of ESPN’s Thursday College Football Primetime games from 2006-2009 and previously had been a sideline reporter, beginning in 1988.

Fowler also served as a host for ESPN’s month-long, on-site studio coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup from South Africa, where he anchored pre-, halftime and post-match shows, along with SportsCenter, for the FIFA World Cup segments.

Fowler hosted ESPN’s NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four coverage (1992-2005) and was a host on select editions of the inaugural season of the college basketball version of College GameDay in 2005. From 1998-2007, Fowler added horse racing to his resume, serving as an on-site host for ESPN & ESPN2’s extensive Triple Crown coverage (Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Belmont Stakes). He served as the host of SportsCenter’son-site coverage of top auto racing events, including the Daytona 500 in 2006 and 2007. In the past, Fowler anchored SportsCenter and served as co-host of the X Games from its inception in 1995-2000, as well as the Winter X Games (1998-2000). He also received two Emmy Awards for his work as host and narrator of the celebrated SportsCentury series.